Habibovic new Wisconsin women’s lightweight rowing coach
August 03, 2021 | Lightweight Rowing
Former Oklahoma City women's and men's rowing head coach to lead lightweight program
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's lightweight women's program begins a new era with Hadzo 'Hodge' Habibovic at the helm.
"I'm really psyched to bring 'Hodge' into our coaching team," women's rowing head coach Bebe Bryans said. "He has experience as an elite athlete and coach, and his ability to be an effective teacher to both new and high-level rowers makes him a great fit for Wisconsin.
"As lead lightweight coach, he can look forward to a strong returning and recruited group of rowers, and also helping to recruit the next class of Badger walk-ons. Welcome Hodge!"
Habibovic, who begins his duties on Aug. 10, arrives in Madison from Oklahoma City University, where he coached both women's and men's rowers. In 2021, Oklahoma City continued improving on record program finishes by placing third in the women's lightweight double sculls at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championships and taking sixth in the men's four. The men also repeated as varsity four champions at the Dad Vail Regatta.
In the fall of 2019, his Oklahoma City crew placed fifth in the men's collegiate four at the Head of the Charles.
Standard setting began during the 2018-19 season when OCU's men's varsity four took 13th by winning the third level final at the IRAs and set a course record in the men's varsity four to win the Thomas A. Curran Cup at the Dad Vail Regatta.
While at OCU, Habibovic aldo directed the Midwest/Central Region Olympic development camp for USRowing.
Before his time at OCU, Habibovic coached at the junior rowing level with Chicago Rowing Foundation and Riversport OKC.
Habibovic earned his undergraduate and master's degrees in accounting from OCU. A coxswain there from 2011-15, he helped the Stars qualify for their first IRA regatta with a varsity eight title in the Western Sprints in 2015. In 2014, he coxed the varsity four to second at Dad Vails.
On the international stage, Habibovic coxed the U.S. to its first gold in the men's eight at the World University Games in South Korea after his senior year. He was invited to the U.S. World Rowing Under-23 Championships selection camp before his final collegiate season.
Born in Austria and living for a short time in Bosnia, he grew up in Chicago, where he rowed with the Lincoln Park Juniors (now Chicago Rowing Foundation) at a pair of youth national championships and club national championships. He also took part in the USRowing Junior National Team Development Camp in 2010.
"I'm super excited," Habibovic said. "I think coach Dusty Mattison before me has set up a really good foundation for future success. I can't wait to start with team and hopefully win some national titles. I'm thankful to coach Bebe Bryans for the opportunity. I think she has a really great staff in place and I'm excited to join them."
"I'm really psyched to bring 'Hodge' into our coaching team," women's rowing head coach Bebe Bryans said. "He has experience as an elite athlete and coach, and his ability to be an effective teacher to both new and high-level rowers makes him a great fit for Wisconsin.
"As lead lightweight coach, he can look forward to a strong returning and recruited group of rowers, and also helping to recruit the next class of Badger walk-ons. Welcome Hodge!"
Habibovic, who begins his duties on Aug. 10, arrives in Madison from Oklahoma City University, where he coached both women's and men's rowers. In 2021, Oklahoma City continued improving on record program finishes by placing third in the women's lightweight double sculls at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championships and taking sixth in the men's four. The men also repeated as varsity four champions at the Dad Vail Regatta.
In the fall of 2019, his Oklahoma City crew placed fifth in the men's collegiate four at the Head of the Charles.
Standard setting began during the 2018-19 season when OCU's men's varsity four took 13th by winning the third level final at the IRAs and set a course record in the men's varsity four to win the Thomas A. Curran Cup at the Dad Vail Regatta.
While at OCU, Habibovic aldo directed the Midwest/Central Region Olympic development camp for USRowing.
Before his time at OCU, Habibovic coached at the junior rowing level with Chicago Rowing Foundation and Riversport OKC.
Habibovic earned his undergraduate and master's degrees in accounting from OCU. A coxswain there from 2011-15, he helped the Stars qualify for their first IRA regatta with a varsity eight title in the Western Sprints in 2015. In 2014, he coxed the varsity four to second at Dad Vails.
On the international stage, Habibovic coxed the U.S. to its first gold in the men's eight at the World University Games in South Korea after his senior year. He was invited to the U.S. World Rowing Under-23 Championships selection camp before his final collegiate season.
Born in Austria and living for a short time in Bosnia, he grew up in Chicago, where he rowed with the Lincoln Park Juniors (now Chicago Rowing Foundation) at a pair of youth national championships and club national championships. He also took part in the USRowing Junior National Team Development Camp in 2010.
"I'm super excited," Habibovic said. "I think coach Dusty Mattison before me has set up a really good foundation for future success. I can't wait to start with team and hopefully win some national titles. I'm thankful to coach Bebe Bryans for the opportunity. I think she has a really great staff in place and I'm excited to join them."
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